In Isaiah's day the spiritual understanding of mankind
was dark through misapprehension of God. Long had
Satan sought to lead men to look upon their Creator as the
author of sin and suffering and death. Those whom he had
thus deceived, imagined that God was hard and exacting.
They regarded Him as watching to denounce and condemn,
unwilling to receive the sinner so long as there
was a legal excuse for not helping him. The law of love
by which heaven is ruled had been misrepresented by the
archdeceiver as a restriction upon men's happiness, a burdensome
yoke from which they should be glad to escape. He
declared that its precepts could not be obeyed and that the
penalties of transgression were bestowed arbitrarily.
In losing sight of the true character of Jehovah, the
Israelites were without excuse. Often had God revealed
Himself to them as one "full of compassion, and gracious,
long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalm
86:15. "When Israel was a child," He testified, "then I loved
him, and called My son out of Egypt." Hosea 11:1.
Tenderly had the Lord dealt with Israel in their deliverance
from Egyptian bondage and in their journey to the
Promised Land. "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and
the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in
His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried
them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9.
"My presence shall go with thee," was the promise given
during the journey through the wilderness. Exodus 33:14.
This assurance was accompanied by a marvelous revelation
of Jehovah's character, which enabled Moses to proclaim
to all Israel the goodness of God, and to instruct them fully
concerning the attributes of their invisible King. "The Lord
passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord
God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant
in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by
no means clear the guilty." Exodus 34:6, 7.
It was upon his knowledge of the long-sufferance of
Jehovah and of His infinite love and mercy, that Moses
based his wonderful plea for the life of Israel when, on the
borders of the Promised Land, they refused to advance in
obedience to the command of God. At the height of their
rebellion the Lord had declared, "I will smite them with the
pestilence, and disinherit them;" and He had proposed to
make of the descendants of Moses "a greater nation and
mightier than they." Numbers 14:12. But the prophet
pleaded the marvelous providences and promises of God in
behalf of the chosen nation. And then, as the strongest of
all pleas, he urged the love of God for fallen man. See
verses 17-19.
Graciously the Lord responded, "I have pardoned according
to thy word." And then He imparted to Moses, in the
form of a prophecy, a knowledge of His purpose concerning
the final triumph of Israel. "As truly as I live," He declared,
"all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord."
Verses 20, 21. God's glory, His character, His merciful
kindness and tender love--that which Moses had pleaded
in behalf of Israel--were to be revealed to all mankind. And
this promise of Jehovah was made doubly sure; it was confirmed
by an oath. As surely as God lives and reigns, His
glory should be declared "among the heathen, His wonders
among all people." Psalm 96:3.
It was concerning the future fulfillment of this prophecy
that Isaiah had heard the shining seraphim singing before
the throne, "The whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah
6:3. The prophet, confident of the certainty of these words,
himself afterward boldly declared of those who were bowing
down to the images of wood and stone, "They shall see
the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God."
Isaiah 35:2.
Today this prophecy is meeting rapid fulfillment. The
missionary activities of the church of God on earth are bearing
rich fruitage, and soon the gospel message will have
been proclaimed to all nations. "To the praise of the glory
of His grace," men and women from every kindred, tongue,
and people are being made "accepted in the Beloved," "that
in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches
of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus." Ephesians 1:6; 2:7. "Blessed be the Lord God, the
God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And
blessed be His glorious name forever: and let the whole
earth be filled with His glory." Psalm 72:18, 19.
In the vision that came to Isaiah in the temple court, he
was given a clear view of the character of the God of Israel.
"The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose
name is Holy," had appeared before him in great majesty;
yet the prophet was made to understand the compassionate
nature of his Lord. He who dwells "in the high and holy
place" dwells "with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to
revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15. The
angel commissioned to touch Isaiah's lips had brought to
him the message, "Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy
sin purged." Isaiah 6:7.
In beholding his God, the prophet, like Saul of Tarsus
at the gate of Damascus, had not only been given a view
of his own unworthiness; there had come to his humbled
heart the assurance of forgiveness, full and free; and he
had arisen a changed man. He had seen his Lord. He
had caught a glimpse of the loveliness of the divine character.
He could testify of the transformation wrought through
beholding Infinite Love. Henceforth he was inspired with
longing desire to see erring Israel set free from the burden
and penalty of sin. "Why should ye be stricken any more?"
the prophet inquired. "Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall
be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool." "Wash you, make you clean; put away
the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to
do evil; learn to do well." Isaiah 1:5, 18, 16, 17.
The God whom they had been claiming to serve, but
whose character they had misunderstood, was set before
them as the great Healer of spiritual disease. What though
the whole head was sick and the whole heart faint? what
though from the sole of the foot even unto the crown of
the head there was no soundness, but wounds, and bruises,
and putrefying sores? See Isaiah 1:6. He who had been
walking frowardly in the way of his heart might find healing
by turning to the Lord. "I have seen his ways," the
Lord declared, "and will heal him: I will lead him also, and
restore comforts unto him. . . . Peace, peace to him that
is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will
heal him." Isaiah 57:18, 19.
The prophet exalted God as Creator of all. His message
to the cities of Judah was, "Behold your God!" Isaiah 40:9.
"Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens,
and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth,
and that which cometh out of it;" "I am the Lord that
maketh all things;" "I form the light, and create darkness;"
"I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even
My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host
have I commanded." Isaiah 42:5; 44:24; 45:7, 12. "To whom
then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy
One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath
created these things, that bringeth out their host by number:
He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His
might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth."
Isaiah 40:25, 26.
To those who feared they would not be received if they
should return to God, the prophet declared:
"Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My
way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over
from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends
of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no
searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint;
and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young
men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings
as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall
walk, and not faint." Verses 27-31.
The heart of Infinite Love yearns after those who feel
powerless to free themselves from the snares of Satan; and
He graciously offers to strengthen them to live for Him.
"Fear thou not," He bids them; "for I am with thee: be
not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;
yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of My righteousness." "I the Lord thy God will hold
thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye man of Israel; I will
help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One
of Israel." Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14.
The inhabitants of Judah were all undeserving, yet God
would not give them up. By them His name was to be
exalted among the heathen. Many who were wholly unacquainted
with His attributes were yet to behold the glory
of the divine character. It was for the purpose of making
plain His merciful designs that He kept sending His servants
the prophets with the message, "Turn ye again now
everyone from his evil way." Jeremiah 25:5. "For My name's
sake," He declared through Isaiah, "will I defer Mine anger,
and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not
off." "For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will
I do it: for how should My name be polluted? and I will
not give My glory unto another." Isaiah 48:9 ,11.
The call to repentance was sounded with unmistakable
clearness, and all were invited to return. "Seek ye the Lord
while He may be found," the prophet pleaded; "call ye
upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him
return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah
55:6, 7.
Have you, reader, chosen your own way? Have you
wandered far from God? Have you sought to feast upon
the fruits of transgression, only to find them turn to ashes
upon your lips? And now, your life plans thwarted and
your hopes dead, do you sit alone and desolate? That voice
which has long been speaking to your heart, but to which
you would not listen, comes to you distinct and clear, "Arise
ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted,
it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction." Micah
2:10. Return to your Father's house. He invites you, saying,
"Return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee." "Come unto
Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of
David." Isaiah 44:22; 55:3.
Do not listen to the enemy's suggestion to stay away
from Christ until you have made yourself better, until you
are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then you
will never come. When Satan points to your filthy garments,
repeat the promise of the Saviour, "Him that
cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. Tell
the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all
sin. Make the prayer of David your own: "Purge me with
hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow." Psalm 51:7.
The exhortations of the prophet to Judah to behold
the living God, and to accept His gracious offers, were not
in vain. There were some who gave earnest heed, and
who turned from their idols to the worship of Jehovah.
They learned to see in their Maker love and mercy and
tender compassion. And in the dark days that were to
come in the history of Judah, when only a remnant were to
be left in the land, the prophet's words were to continue
bearing fruit in decided reformation. "At that day," declared
Isaiah, "shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall
have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not
look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect
that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the
images." Isaiah 17:7, 8.
Many were to behold the One altogether lovely, the chiefest
among ten thousand. "Thine eyes shall see the King
in His beauty," was the gracious promise made them. Isaiah
33:17. Their sins were to be forgiven, and they were to
make their boast in God alone. In that glad day of redemption
from idolatry they would exclaim, "The glorious Lord
will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams. . . .
The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord
is our king; He will save us." Verses 21, 22.
The messages borne by Isaiah to those who chose to
turn from their evil ways were full of comfort and encouragement.
Hear the word of the Lord through His prophet: